Balestier Khalsa are set to have a new first-choice custodian
for the 2007 S.League season, following the exits of Fajar Sarib
and Rizal Rahman.
The changes in the goalkeeping department are part of a dramatic
overhaul at Toa Payoh, with two-thirds of the 18-man 2006 roster
leaving.
Fajar has been snapped up by Geylang United as backup to Hassan
Sunny, while Rizal, who missed much of the previous season through
a severe knee injury, has since found new full-time employment with
SIA Engineering.
The club is already moving to bring in replacements. Old boy
Zulkifli Zainolabidin will be returning to Balestier after being
away for two years, while the search is on for a second
goalkeeper.
Weve brought Zulkifli in from Tampines Rovers, and were looking
around for another keeper, said Tigers coach Abdul Karim
Razzak.
Zulkifli was here before in 2004, and I thought he didnt do too
badly then. Goalkeepers need to be given chances to play, and when
I spoke to him, he looked very motivated.
He may not start well when the season begins, but with more match
exposure and more experience, his confidence will grow. Fajar
fumbled a lot when he started here too, but as he got more games,
he became more confident.
Were also talking to Rizal to see if hell play part-time here as
a safety net. But we may decide to have three goalkeepers in the
end, so Rizal can focus on his work.
While Fajar will remain in football, Rizals decision to
concentrate on building his career outside the sports industry
makes him the third Balestier player to do so in recent
months.
Fullback Parwinderjit Singh, 26, has also decided to sacrifice
professional football in favour of his engineering job, while
defensive hard man Johnny Lui opted to hang up his boots in October
at the age of 24.
The three players decisions had the blessings of Balestier
vice-chairman S. Thavaneson, who felt it was important for clubs to
think of their players post-football life.
Highlighting Rizal as a positive example, the 59-year-old said that
the vested interests of the club must come second to what is best
for the player in the long run.
The choice is good for these players, and in the case of Rizal, it
speaks especially well now that hes training to become an aircraft
maintenance engineer, said Thavaneson.
Hes moved up from the youth ranks, went through the Prime League,
became a professional and spent several years with a club. Now hes
decided to move on, and its a good example of how footballers must
learn to build a career for themselves.
If he stayed on, hed be a first-choice goalkeeper for maybe two
more years. But we as football officials must look at the other
side of a football player, and cannot just think of squeezing
everything we can out of our players for short-term gain.
Its incumbent on us to ensure that footballers lives enjoy
continuity even after they stop playing. If players have to choose
between football and furthering a long-term career, I believe the
long-term career is the right choice.
The Tigers have been forced to dismantle the side that reached the
RHB Singapore Cup semifinals last year, having been targeted for
numerous transfer raids as a result of their achievements.
Iconic captain Akihiro Nakamura has moved to Woodlands Wellington
together with Yusri Waris, while Cameroonian striker Kengne
Ludovick and young defender Kamarulariffin Karim have made the
short hop to Home United at Bishan.
Old warhorse Mohamed Mardani has signed with Sengkang Punggol,
Osagie Ederaro is back home in Nigeria with a view to playing in
Europe, while S. Senthilan, linked to several local clubs, is now a
free agent.
Even Ibrahim Dawood and J. Kalaiselvan are not certain to turn out
for Balestier in the coming season, as both are racing against time
to recover from injuries and pass the mandatory fitness test, which
starts next week.
We are like Mustafa Shopping Centre cheap and good, said Karim
of the club.
Everybody comes here to shop for players, and we have to expect
that because we are a small club. When bigger teams with bigger
budgets come in, we have to accept that we cannot compete with
them.
Its frustrating, but thats reality. Two years ago, people like
Ludo and Aki were nobodies in the S.League, but today they are key
players at this club, and other people want them.
But nobody is irreplaceable, and I also wish the players well.
Theyve worked hard here, and they are rewarded with bigger
salaries and better benefits at bigger clubs; thats the way it
goes.
Karim is already building a new team for 2007, having swiftly
established a new core of players through a combination of
promoting youth and recruiting from without.
Sahairi Ramri, Jufri Taha and Anantha Rajan have all been elevated
to the senior squad, after putting together impressive runs in the
second half of the previous S.League season.
Kaze Teffo Giscard meanwhile maintains the Cameroonian presence at
Balestier, while ex-SAFFC forward Farizal Basri has joined the club
to link up with Norikazu Murakami.
The Tigers will also welcome back S. Rajendran, who is returning
after one year with Geylang United and has brought with him fellow
defenders Fathi Yunus and Juraimie Dawood.
It feels good to come back, after a not-so-good time at Geylang
due to injuries, said Rajendran.
Lim Tong Hai initially wanted to keep me there, but it became
clear towards the end that I was not part of his plans for this
year. I was given a choice to stay and fight it out from the bench,
but Id rather come back here where Im wanted.
Its the best move for me, actually, because Im 26, and at this
age its important for me to get first-team football. Theres no
point in wasting away on the bench or in the stands.
I can get first-team action here, and its great to work with
Karim again as he gets better. Im past my injuries now, and I hope
to stay injury-free and play every game this year.